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REPORT 



CENTENNIAL STATE BOARD 



MINNESOTA. 



MADE TO THE GOVEENOE, 



In Pursuance of Chap. 153, Gen. Laws, 187/ 




SAINT PAUL: 

THE PIONEERtPRESS COMPANY. 

187G. 



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EEPOET 



CENTENNIAL STATE BOARD 



OF 



MIN NESOTA. 



MADE TO THE GOVERNOR 

In Pursuance of Chap. 153, Gen. Laws, 1875. 









SAINT PAUL: 

THE PIONEER-PRESS COMPANY. 

1875. 






MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. 



WILLIAM W. FOLWELL, Minneapolis, President. 

PENNOCK PUSEY, St. Paul. 

PARIS GIBSON, Minneapolis. 

PHILIP S. HARRIS, St. Paul. 

J. F. WILLIAMS, St. Paul, Secretary. 






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EEPOET. 



1 o His Excellency Gushman K. Davis, Governor of Minnesota : 

Sir : — The Centennial State Board of Minnesota, herewith sub- 
mit a report of their action under the Act of last session of the 
Legislature. 

The Act referred to, (Chapter 153, General Laws,) appropriated 
the sum of five hundred dollars, to the Board, for the purpose of 
making " a proper display of the Mineral,. Agricultural, and Natu- 
ral Resources of the State, and of its Manufactures and Products, 
at the International Exposition at Philadelphia, in 1876, * * * * 
in such way as they shall deem will best accomplish the object 
expressed * * * and best conduce to the advantage, reputation 
and interests of the State in said Exposition," &c. 

It will thus be seen that while an extensive and important work 
was laid on this Board, the means supplied them to properly accom- 
plish it, were totally inadequate. It was hoped by the Board that 
three, or five times that amount, could have been bestowed by the 
Legislature ; but the large appropriations required for frontier relief, 
and the almost depleted condition of the State Treasury, seemed to 
render any further aid impossible ; at least it was so regarded by 
the financial officers of the State, and the committees of the 
Legislature who had control of the appropriation bills. 

The Board, however, concluded to do the most with the means at 
hand, and accepted the difficult and responsible trust in hopes that 
some way would ultimately be found for large success despite such 
small means. It enabled the Board to do but little except arouse 
the interest of the people, secure the co-operation of the press, and 
enlist the aid of persons in the State who could assist in any of 
their specialties. An address, setting forth the importance of a 
proper representation of our State resources, was widely published 
in the newspapers and in a circular form. Blank applications for 



space from exhibitors, rules and regulations, were also circulated, 
and every means within our power used to arouse and enlist atten- 
tion to the work. 

Prof, N. H. Winchell, State Geologist, was appointed to collect 
a cabinet of Ores, Minerals, Fossils, Soils, and Building Stones of 
the State, and Prof. Chas. Y. Lacy, of the State Agricultural Col- 
lege, was appointed to collect specimens of forest wood, plants, 
shrubs, &c. 

We regret to say that a very feeble response was made to the 
appeal above mentioned, and it soon became evident to the Board 
that we could not depend on the voluntary, unorganized action of 
the people to collect and send us specimens, at expense to them- 
selves, as man}' who would be glad to do so, had neither time, op- 
portunity or means to accomplish their good intentions. The con- 
clusion was irresistible, that if the State would be creditably rep- 
resented, it must appropriate a sum sufficient to employ persons to 
collect and secure the specimens needed. . The old adage — " what 
is everybody's business," &c, held good in this case. 

Still it was hoped that manufacturers and artizans, those engaged 
in the production of machinery and fabrics, would feel it to their 
own interest, as well as gratifying to the pride which every citizen 
should feel in his State, to exhibit whatever they could, represent- 
ing Minnesota industries. Yet late in September, a letter was 
received by the Board, from Hon. A. T. Goshorn, Director General 
of the Exposition, stating that the time (October 30) was rapidly 
drawing nigh, when the Commission would cease receiving applica- 
tions for space, and that only four applications had then been 
received from the State of Minnesota. Tt now became evide it to 
the Board that means must be taken to bring the subject personally 
to the attention of our manufacturers and artizans, and arouse their 
self-interest and State pride, or our Minnesota department in the 
great Exposition, of the industries and resources of this and other 
nations, would be a failure, to our shame and injury. There was 
no alternative but to send a special agent through the State, to 
such principal points as could be reached in so short a time, to visit 
manufacturing linns in person, and secured an application on the 
spot. R. C. Judson, Esq., the well-known and active Secretary of 
the State Agricultural Society, was selected for this duty, and vis- 
ited various parts of the State, securing quite a number of applica- 
tions. :i nd otherwise gratify ingly furthering the work. Hon. Pen- 
nock Pusey, a member of the Board, also visited several counties ; 
and another of the Board, in connection with a committee appointed 



by the Chamber of Commerce, of Saint Paul, canvassed that city. 
Minneapolis was also canvassed by a committee of its Board of 
Trade, and we believe that among all these special efforts, a very 
fair representation of our manufacturing interests will be secured. 
Hon. John L. Campbell, Secretary of the Commission, stated to one 
of our members this week, that he thought our State had done as 
much, in proportion to its population, resources, wealth, &c, as 
any other State. 

In order to secure space for a proper exhibit of specimens illus- 
trating the natural resources of the State, application was made 
for ten thousand square feet of space, in addition to the aggregate 
amount applied for by exhibitors. In the crowded condition of 
all the buildings, it is not certain that we can secure so much, but 
if not, it is hoped that the requisite space will be secured to our 
State by the erection of a building for its exclusive use. 

ADVANTAGES OF A STATE BUILDING. 

Many reasons occur to the Board why we should have a separate 
building. 

The additional cost will not be very great, compared with the 
advantages, and taking into consideration the additional value of 
such a mode of exhibition, and we will thus be enabled to render 
our exhibit distinctive and special in its character. It will, accord- 
ing to our estimates, given elsewhere, probably cost from $30,000 
to $35,000, to make such an exhibit as the State would feel proud 
of, including the proposed building ; while it would probably cost 
from $20,000 to $22,000 to secure a good exhibition, without such 
a building. The additional fifty per cent, of expenditure would, in 
the opinion of gentlemen of this State who have thoroughly and 
impartially examined the question, increase the usefulness and ben • 
efits to our State exhibit, many fold. The Board may be permitted 
in this connection, to refer to the full and able report of Richard 
Chute, Esq., (who was sent by the Board of Trade of Minneapolis 
to Philadelphia to examine the question,) to that organization on 
his return. 

Large numbers of our citizens who have products and manufac- 
tures to exhibit, but who could not make arrangements to do so 
when the time for receiving applications for space closed (October 
30) will thus be enabled to swell our displaj^, who, if that opportu- 
nity is not provided for, will be shut out altogether. We can, in 
a separate building, under our own control, receive applications for 



6 

articles up to the very opening day of the exhibition (May 10) six 
months later than the directors would receive them, and this 
period — that immediately prior to the opening — is the most valuable 
and effective time to secure a good displaj' from our State, coming 
after our people have been fully awakened to the importance of the 
display. 

In a separate State building, we can exhibit anything, which, by 
a liberal construction of our Board, will impress on visitors the 
capacities, advantages and resources of our State. Among these 
means are maps, pictures, views, statistical charts, photographs of 
scenery, immigration documents, or anything calculated to accom- 
plish the objects. Some of these would probably not be permitted 
in the general buildings erected and controlled by the Commission, 
even could we secure space for them. 

Without a separate building, our exhibit would be scattered 
among the five general buildings of the Exposition — a little here 
and a little there — quite buried and unnoticed among the masses 
of products and fabrics from larger States. In a separate building 
they could be all arranged under one roof, without being crowded 
into the background by any arbitrary mode of arrangement, over 
which we would have no control. 

Such a building would be a sort of headquarters for all Minnesota 
people, who could find each other's address, while in the city, by 
means of visitors' registers which we would keep, examine Minne- 
sota newspapers on file, and procure information of value and use 
to them. Several States, who have no separate building, will erect 
these agencies, or headquarters. We can combine both in one 
edifice. 

Were such a building built by the State, the natural State pride 
of* our people, which has never been yet appealed to in vain, would 
soon fill it with our choicest and finest products, and thus draw out 
a much better exhibition than we could hope to secure, if our exhib- 
its were scattered through five different edifices. The idea broached 
by some of our leading journals, and public men, meets with almost 
general favor, and has encouraged the belief that the Legislature, 
in furnishing us with means to erect the building, will only carry 
out the wishes of their most intelligent and public-spirited constit- 
uents. 

Another reason why our State should have a separate building, 
is the fact, (one not creditable to our liberality,) that Minnesota 
has, so far, contributed almost nothing to the capital stock of the 
Exposition. Only three shares, thirty dollars in a!L have been taken 






in this State. The means necessary to erect the buildings of the 
Commission have been contributed mainly by Philadelphia and 
Pennsylvania, and their citizens, and if our State exhibits in those 
buildings, after giving nothing towards their erection, it will be an 
instance of one State making a display at the expense, in whole or 
part, of another State or its people. Simple justice and pride would 
lead us, in case we clo not erect a building of our own, to make a 
donation of such sum to the funds of the Commission, as would be 
our proportion of the cost of said buildings, to reimburse them for 
the share of room occupied by us, and other expenses. 

ESTIMATED EXPENSES OF THE BOARD. 

We herewith submit an estimate of the amount of means required 
by the board to properly carry out its objects during the Centen- 
nial year : 

Building, including walks, outhouses, water and gas piping, sewer- 
age, signs, counters, shelving, railing, seats, furniture, flags 

and other decorations $12,000 

Freight and handling on articles sent from Minnesota to Philadel- 
phia and return 3,500 

Salary and expenses of Agent 3,000 

Pay of laborers, clerks and employes, here and at Philadelphia 4,000 

Printing, advertising, telegraphing, postage and stationery 2,000 

Personal expenses of Commissioners 1,000 

Personal expenses of Board 1,000 

Expense of collecting grain and other products 1,500 

" " minerals, ores and stone 1,000 

' ; " specimens of forest wood 1,000 

Boxes, vases and receptacles for grain 500 

Maps, pictures, statistical charts, &c 500 

For educational exhibit 500 

Balance of expenses already incurred 500 

Contingent — items not estimated 3,000 

$35,000 

Some of these items may be overestimated, and others underes- 
timated. But careful inquiry and study lead us to conclude that 
the total amount needed will be as we have stated above. 

It is respectfully suggested, therefore, that an appropriation of 
thirty-five thousand dollars be made as soon as the bill can be prop- 
erly acted upon and passed, for the uses and purposes above named. 
The necessity for the utmost promptness of action is therefore evi- 



8 

dent, owing to the shortness of time between the earliest- moment 
such a bill could become a law, and the opening of the exhibition. 

The Board, although without means, and seriously retarded and 
embarrassed by that want, has now in successful operation, agen- 
cies for the collection of grain and other specimens needed. Sacks, 
bearing the printed address of the Board, have been distributed to 
parties in the various counties and districts of the State, to secure 
the choicest specimens of grain, &c, that could be secured, and 
return the n to us. The railroads, through their land departments, 
are generously co-operating with us, in securing these specimens, and 
sending them to us free of transportation. Persons interested in the 
centennial movement in various parts of the State, are also endeav- 
oring to aid us. But the main part of our work can only be accom- 
plished by placing suitable persons in the field, to vigorously and 
promptly push the collection and forwarding of the specimens. 
Voluntary efforts cannot be relied on. 

The necessity of having some depository or place where these 
specimens could be collected and kept, until the time arrives to send 
them on, compelled us to rent a store-room, at No. 38 West Third 
street, Saint Paul, which is also a very suitable place for a " Cen- 
tennial Headquarters," and working rooms for the Board. Findlay 
McCormick, Esq., a gentleman admirably qualified for such a task 
has been appointed special agent for the Board, and is laboring 
very successfully and effectively, to further the interests of the 
Centennial movement in this State. 

THE STATE BOARD ITS POWERS, &C. 

This Board was organized under the instructions of the United 
States Centennial Commission, dated August, 1874, and which are 
contained in the Manual of the Commission, page 32 — under the 
head, " State Organizations" — as follows : 

" In States and Territories where such Boards do not exist, in 
order to secure their organization throughout the country without 
further delay, it is recommended that they consist of the Centennial 
Commissioner and Alternate, and not less than three other persons 
appointed by the Director-General, with the advice and consent of 
the Commissioners of the State or Territory." 

This Board was therefore organized in accordance with the above 
request. It has been recognized by the Commission, has corres- 



9 

ponded with them, and reported to them constantly, and has been 
furnished with all the aid and information which the Commission 
could give it ; and in this connection we very cordially return our 
thanks to the officers of the Commission for their uniform prompt- 
ness, courtesy and good will. The members of the Board receive 
no pay for their services, and expect none. Tiieir appointment is 
purely honorary, one of trust and not profit. They have each, the 
past year, given valuable time, and some means, to the work de- 
volving upon them. Each one of the Board has, at his own expense, 
visited the Centennial Commission and grounds, and made himself 
familiar with the work to be performed. We recognize its impor- 
tance, and the delicate interests entrusted to our care and judgment. 
Our only anxiety has been that we could not do more, because we 
had no means at our disposal. 

We have consumed no space in this report in speaking of the 
objects, condition and prospects of the International Exposition. 
They are so familiar to every newspaper reader, to repeat them 
here, would be to underrate the intelligence of every one who may 
read this report. Nor will we now further extend this report by 
enumerating the advantages our State will receive from making a 
good display of its resources at the Centennial. They must be 
apparent to every citizen. Not only State* *pride, (but self-interest, 
would prompt us to put forth every endeavor to excel. We have 
too much at stake to be content with a poor or scanty exhibit, when 
States that are our powerful rivals for immigration, are spending 
from $50,000 to $100,000 in showing their resources to advantage. 
It is the golden opportunity, the neglect to avail ourselves of which 
will be an irreparable error. 

Saint Paul, December 18, 1875. 



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